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Nebraska Dem. Official on Scalise: 'I'm Glad He Got Shot ... I Wish He Was F*cking Dead'

Nebraska Dem. Official on Scalise: 'I'm Glad He Got Shot ... I Wish He Was F*cking Dead'

The Nebraska Democratic Party fired an official on Thursday after his remarks about last week's shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) went public. The staffer was recorded saying he was glad Scalise got shot and wished the congressman had died.

"His whole job is to get people, convince Republicans to f*cking kick people off f*cking health care. I'm f*cking glad he got shot," Phil Montag, volunteer co-chairman of the Democratic Party's technology committee, said during a private meeting, Fox 42 reported. "I'm not going to f*cking say that in public."

The comments came in a meeting with the Democratic Party's Black Caucus chairwoman, Chelsey Gentry-Tipton, and a friend of hers, Destin Madison, the Associated Press reported. Montag later added, "I wish he was f*cking dead."

Madison told Montag on the tape that he had secretly recorded the conversation and planned to publicize them.

Montag told the Omaha World-Herald that he was "horrified" by the shooting of Scalise and that he "absolutely" did not wish the congressman dead. He argued that the recording had been edited to take his words out of context.

"I did not call for the congressman's death," the former staffer said. "Like every decent American I am saddened and horrified by the shooting of Congressman Scalise. I did not and do not wish for his death. I am hopeful that the entirety of the original, unedited recording will emerge so we can get to the truth of the matter."

Even so, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb fired him immediately upon hearing the recording. "This is the first I am hearing this," Kleeb told the World-Herald. "As soon as I heard it, I sent it to the (party) officers and then sent an email to Phil Montag informing him that I am removing him from his appointed position."

"Wishing a Member of Congress or any individual dead is disgusting and has no place in our party," Kleeb declared. She also said she reported the conversation to police because she viewed Montag's remarks as a possible death threat.